Croatia Coast and Islands Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14 Days

These itineraries count arrival and departure as travel days. The seven-day version returns to Split; the longer versions start in Split and finish in Dubrovnik. Check flights, ferry dates and accommodation access before committing to the direction. The routes are editorial outlines, not guarantees of a particular sailing.

Seven days: Split and one island, six nights

• Nights 1–2: Split. Arrive on day 1; day 2 is for the palace lanes, one paid visit and the waterfront.
• Nights 3–5: one island base. Transfer on day 3 to Hvar Town/Stari Grad or Supetar/Bol on Brač. Days 4–5 are two full island days: town and one beach outing.
• Night 6: Split. Return on day 6; allow time for an unhurried evening rather than another excursion. Depart on day 7.

This version omits Dubrovnik and the national parks. With only six nights, adding them takes time directly from the island or the city. Choose the specific base using the island comparison, then match the correct port to the accommodation.

Ten days: Split, one island, Dubrovnik, nine nights

Nights 1–3 Split, 4–6 Hvar Town or Korčula Town, 7–9 Dubrovnik. Arrive day 1; days 2–3 give a city day and Trogir or beach time. Day 4 is the island transfer, days 5–6 are full island days, day 7 is the journey to Dubrovnik. Day 8 covers the old town and walls; day 9 is for a beach or Lokrum if conditions suit. Fly home on day 10.

This outline depends on suitable passenger services to the chosen island and onward to Dubrovnik. Check the actual dates with Krilo or the relevant operator. If the direct onward service is unavailable, redesign the transfer via the mainland before booking; do not assume another island is a simple connection. The ferry guide explains port and vehicle differences.

Fourteen days: add Šibenik and Krka, thirteen nights

Nights 1–2 Split, 3–5 Šibenik, 6 Split, 7–9 one island, 10–13 Dubrovnik. Day 2 is your full Split day. Transfer to Šibenik on day 3, visit the city on day 4 and Krka on day 5. Return to Split on day 6 and return the rental car if you hired one. Day 7 is the island crossing; days 8–9 are full island days. Continue to Dubrovnik on day 10, giving three full days before departure on day 14.

This makes a deliberate short northward mainland loop before the southbound island section. If arriving in Zadar is more convenient, the northern section can be rearranged, but recalculate all nights and the car drop-off. Do not append Zadar as another one-night stop. Šibenik and Krka form the mainland excursion with three Šibenik nights and a return to Split; Plitvice would require a different northern plan.

Booking order and costs

Start with available arrival/departure transport and dated ferry legs. Then fix overnight bases, car days and selected tickets. An island transfer is a travel day even when the sailing is short. The final mainland stay gives a buffer before the flight, not protection against every disruption.

The budget example uses ten days and nine nights for two adults. Add rental days, parking and Krka for the longer version. With children, price the actual room and ferry age bands; avoid multiplying an adult estimate by four without checking what is shared.

Budget bands are per adult for two sharing a room, including food, local transport and selected admissions, excluding arrival travel. They are editorial allowances; price ferries, rental cars and major activities for the actual itinerary.